The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 July 2023. The bill seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, to make the registration of births and deaths more efficient and accurate.
The bill proposes a number of changes, including:
Making it mandatory for all hospitals and medical institutions to register births and deaths that occur within their premises.
Making it mandatory for all panchayats and municipalities to register births and deaths that occur within their jurisdiction.
Introducing a biometric registration system for births and deaths.
Providing for the appointment of a Registrar-General of India, who will be responsible for the overall administration of the registration system.
Making it a punishable offence to fail to register a birth or death.
The bill is a welcome step towards making the registration of births and deaths more efficient and accurate. The changes proposed in the bill will help to ensure that all births and deaths are registered, and that the data collected is accurate and reliable. This will be beneficial for a number of purposes, including:
Planning and budgeting for social services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Ensuring that children are enrolled in school and that they receive the necessary vaccinations.
Tracking the progress of the population and the economy.
Investigating crime and identifying criminals.
The bill is currently being debated in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. It is expected to be passed into law soon.